Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
Parallel translations
- WEB Receive my instruction rather than silver; knowledge rather than choice gold.
- BSB Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.
- NKJV Receive my instruction, and not silver, And knowledge rather than choice gold;
- NASB “Accept my instruction and not silver, And knowledge rather than choice gold.
- NLT Choose my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Wisdom calls us to value her instruction above silver and gold. What is truly precious is the knowledge of God, not material wealth.
Overview
Personified Wisdom urges hearers to prize her teaching over the most valued commodities of the ancient world. The contrast is deliberate: silver and 'choice gold' represent the highest earthly riches, yet they cannot rival godly instruction. This reorders our priorities, echoing Jesus' call to seek first God's kingdom (Matthew 6:33) and to treasure heavenly riches over earthly ones.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Prov 2:4–5If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
- Ps 119:72The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.
- Ps 119:127Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.
- Prov 23:23Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
- Prov 3:13–15Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
- Prov 10:20The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.
- Acts 3:6Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
- Eccl 7:11Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.
- Prov 16:16How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
- Ps 119:162I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.
- Prov 8:19My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
- 2 Cor 6:10As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 8:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.